Locarno

Centovalli Express

As a land of emotions and contrasts Lake Maggiore is the ideal destination for your holidays. There's everything: unspoilt nature, spectacular scenery, the best climate in Switzerland, major cultural events, beaches, lake shores, an early spring, a golden autumn, wine and food specialities, and an infinite number of possibilities for excursins and for every kind of physical activity, from golf to the extreme sports like canyoning and the best bungee jumping in Switzerland.

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But why did naturists, visionaries and Utopians who dreamt of a new world and a better way of life choose to plant their colonies here? Why, after the war, did European writers, artists and intellectuals, from Hesse to Remarque, from Frisch to Highsmith, from Jawlenski to Max Ernst, decide to live there? There is an answer, and it's the one the tourists give. Here palm trees grow next to chestnuts and between the dry stone walls there's the agave; here the walks above the lake offer views which remind one of the Côte d'Azur; here the air is scented with jasmine, the light has the intense colours and reflections of the south, and even life promises to be easier...
Lake Maggiore is the image of the South - a surprising and magical South, near the heart of Europe, with the Alps as a backdrop.

Within a few kilometres you can leave behind the gentle shores of the lake with its lively towns and palm trees and discover the enchantment of the majestic green valleys, leading up to peaks of over 3,000 metres with glaciers and breathtaking Alpine scenery, dotted with little villages of stone houses hidden away in the chestnut forests, and traversed by rivers where the water is the colour of emerald.

Family

There’s plenty to discover in and around the unspoilt nature of Ascona, Locarno and Lake Maggiore - fine sandy beaches and great playgrounds included. The «Kids Events» summer program with Mascot «Pardy», entertains our smallest guests, and plenty more holiday fun is in store for families as a whole! – Cardada mountain views, idyllic hiking paths, loads of bathing facilities to enjoy games and a dip, rope parks to hang around in, falconry to marvel at, the Teatro Dimitri and plenty more ...

Top Events

Locarno on Ice – a large ice skating rink for everyone, various entertainment programs, music, gastronomy and lots of fun surrounded by the magical Piazza Grande (December-January).

JazzAscona – europe’s largest hot jazz festival. Internationally renowned artists perform live on stages located along the enchanting Ascona lake promenade and link the event directly with the city of New Orleans (June-July).

Festival del Film Locarno – Event that attracts a great number of visitors and is highly rated both by cinephiles and the general public. For 11 days Locarno becomes the world capital of cinema. Spectacular evening open air screenings on the Piazza Grande (August).

Accommodation

Public Transport

Touristic amenities

*All prices are in Swiss Francs and correct at time of print. Prices shown in currencies other than Swiss Francs are guideline prices only and subject to exchange rate variations. All programmes and prices are subject to change without prior notice.